1. Homework: PP and IGs test on Friday FrontPage: OL on your desk. Describe two ways that interest groups can influence public policy.

2. Affecting Public Policy: (aka)… Influencing the Decisions of Government What are the two ways that interest groups can influence the government? 1.Influence the decision-makers… 2. Change the decision-makers Similar to the way we can affect the Supreme Court’s decisions, but different as well…

3. L#@bying.. (#1 - influencing the decision-makers) The Dirty Word in Politics:

4. Lobbying What is lobbying? Who are lobbyists? Why? – Lobbyist: Person who advocates on behalf of himself or a client to pass a law or to make changes to a bill being considered in a federal or state legislative body, or to help shape policy in the executive branch and its regulatory departments. Lobbyists can come from either the private sector or from a legislative affairs department in a federal agency.

5. Lobbying What can lobbyists do to try and make their case to elected officials? – What must a lobbyist NEVER do? What can lobbyists do to have a direct effect on the bills placed before Congress? Why is lobbying controlled and monitored? – How is this done?

6. The Pros and Cons of Lobbying Why is lobbying an important part of our democratic process? Why do some people have a negative view of lobbying?

7. Homework: PP and IGs test on Friday FrontPage: NNIGN

8. #2: Changing the Decision-makers: Influencing Elections According to campaign finance laws (FECA laws of the 1970s), interest groups, unions, and corporations are prohibited from directly donating money to campaigns or political parties. They still spend a great deal on lobbying, however: Amount spent on lobbying http://www.opensecrets.org/lobby/index.php Top spenders on lobbyists: http://www.opensecrets.org/lobby/top.p hp?indexType=s http://www.opensecrets.org/lobby/top.p hp?indexType=s

9. Interest Groups and Donations But in order to still have a voice and be able to support candidates who will in turn support the IGs views, there is a way that IGs can still “give money” to candidates running for office – How do they do this?

10. Political Action Committees What are PACs? Who/what governs the actions of PACs – Federal Election Commission (FEC) – Bipartisan Campaign Finance Reform Act ( BCRA ) limits: To Candidate: $5000 per election To Party: $15000 per year To another PAC: $5000 per year Whom do PACs contribute to? Incumbents: why? Both candidates: why? Running unopposed: why? Top PACs in 2008 election Money raised by all candidates: Money raised by all candidates

11. How do interest groups know which elected officials to support? They look at voting records and assign a “grade” or score depending upon whether the elected official supports their position… – http://www.votesmart.org/issue_rating_category.php?can_id=53340 http://www.votesmart.org/issue_rating_category.php?can_id=53340